EDITORIAL Loss of I-95 bridge shows rails neglect

The fiery destruction of an Interstate 95 bridge in Bridgeport was the second jolting reminder this year of the utter inadequacy of the states commuter railroad.

Published 1:00 am, Wednesday, March 31, 2004

On Friday morning, Metro-North had no extra cars it could put in service to meet an expected surge in commuters. All its cars were already in service or in the repair shop. It could not borrow cars from its other lines. They, too, were all in use or in the shop.

Many commuters decidedly wisely to stay home. If they had driven to the local train station, they would have found no place to park. There is not enough parking for regular commuters.

The shutting of the interstate was an even more dramatic illustration of the woeful state of the Connecticuts rail service than the havoc that Januarys cold and snow played with 100-year-old power lines and 30-year-old cars.

By this week, cities and towns had opened up more parking for commuters. The Shore Line East trains ran through to Stamford, instead of stopping in New Haven. Service on the Waterbury spur was revived.

Rather than being regarded as temporary, all of these measures should be made permanent. Traffic is already choking Fairfield County. Some 120,000 vehicles, including 40,000 trucks, travel this section of I-95. The road is critical to Connecticuts economy. There is no alternative to the highway although one is needed. The state has to stop promising mass transit improvements and actually make them.